Daniil Skvortsov

June 2025—In a draft with plenty of 6-3+ defencemen, Skvortsov brings among the most complete packages. We’ve established he’s big, but he’s also heavy, and, when combined with his low, compact posture, this gives him an excellent physical profile. That posture also shows up in his skating, where Skvortsov possesses some legitimate explosiveness and maneuverability at high speeds, allowing him to pounce on checks, make strong pinches, or transition the puck with his feet.

While this seems to give the impression of an intense D-man with a high activity-rate, that’s not really Skvortsov’s style. His defensive game is calculated and poised, relying on his positioning and accurate reads to break up plays. He’ll need to add another layer of physicality to make scouts’ eyes truly light up, but Skvortsov has a ton of promise as an NHL defender.—Luke Sweeney